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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A Long Island woman is in the hospital after being attacked by two pit bulls Thursday morning in North Merrick, police said.

The woman, identified by neighbors as 62-year-old Shasahi Sharma had just finished walking the track behind the former Brookside Junior High School just after 11 a.m. when the two 90-pound dogs attacked her.

“Her left arm is severely damaged and that she’s going to require a lot of physical therapy and surgery in the long run,” Suraj Sharma said. “Why do people have dogs that do this? She’s always been a little afraid of dogs, but usually when people are [at the track] they have them on a leash.”

The woman managed to call 911 and officers arrived at the scene while the attack was in progress. The dogs then turned on the officers, reports Hennessey. Police opened fire and one pit bull was shot in the back and killed. The other managed to escape into nearby woods and is still on the loose. Police said the second dog may also have been shot.

The woman was rushed to Nassau University Medical Center, where surgery was performed. She is listed in serious condition.

Smith said, “It’s very likely if the officers didn’t arrive and put a stop to this that this woman could have lost her life.”

“We should say to the community at this time, stay inside. If they see these dogs they should let us know, call 911,” Smith told CBS 2’s Jennifer McLogan.

A neighbor told 1010 WINS’ Mona Rivera that the woman walks the track daily to lose weight and get herself back into shape. Another told CBS 2’s McLogan the victim is actually a doctor.

“The woods back right up into our back yard. They still have no idea where that dog is. That dog could be in our backyard for all we know hiding,” neighbor Amanda Hertzka said.

On Wednesday night, police believe the same pit bulls were responsible for the attack of a 67-year-old man on a bicycle three blocks from the site. He managed to escape thanks to a quick-think neighbor who fought the dogs off.

So just how vicious are these animals?

“They were so relentless in trying to get to this guy. I can’t imagine. They didn’t look like junkyard dogs. They looked healthy,” witness John Fiedel told CBS 2’s Hennessey.